China has tried to intimidate Hong Kong activists in Germany, Berlin says

China has tried to intimidate Hong Kong residents living in Germany since pro-democracy protests broke out in the city two years ago.

The letter to the head of parliament’s human rights committee mentioned the increasing attempts by Chinese state actors in Germany to influence public opinion in favour of the Chinese government since the start of the protests in Hong Kong. Also, it citied that the Chinese pro-government counter-demonstrators filmed and photographed participants “presumably for the purpose of intimidation” in the protest of supporting Hong Kong activists in Hamburg on Aug. 17, 2019.

Jensen, a member of the liberal FDP party said it was about time that the German government realised that actors for the Chinese government could pose a threat to exiled Hong Kongers.

Source: Reuters #Feb23

https://reut.rs/2ZGgUsC

#Germany #China #HongKongActivist #ChinaIntimidate

Hong Kong plans to make politicians swear oath of loyalty to Beijing

Hong Kong’s government has announced electoral changes requiring office-holders to pledge and maintain an oath of loyalty to Hong Kong and Beijing, or face disqualification and a five-year ban on running for re-election.

The announcement came a day after a top Beijing official signalled that the significant changes would be coming to ensure Hong Kong was run by “patriots”. It is a clear sign that China intends to no longer tolerate dissenting voices after taking over Hong Kong only 23 years.

Government critics and western leaders have accused Beijing of going back on its word and effectively ending the “one country, two systems” framework for governing the financial hub.

Source: The Guardian #Feb23

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/23/hong-kong-plans-to-make-politicians-swear-oath-of-loyalty-to-beijing?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

#HongKong #HongKongElection #China #DeathOfOneCountryTwoSystems

Tong has been an assistant boxing trainer and fitness coach for over 10 years.

Source: Stand News #Feb15

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Tong has been an assistant boxing trainer and fitness coach for over 10 years.

The decision to close his fitness center was not because business was bad, he stressed; rather, he and his wife did not want to be willing accomplices in the government's plans in gathering citizens' personal information.

Resuming business is a "normal, expected right", he says, and it should come with no conditions attached. "If I help them with this [collecting personal information], I would be too ashamed to face my clients. I don't want to hand over all their information without them authorizing it. This would be very disrespectful; it's a big breach of trust. I don't even know what kind of people will end up with the information I'd collect."

Beside the Leave Home Safe app, a slew of surveillance-oriented programs, such as bluetooth-tracking light poles and mandatory real-name SIM cards, are coming at Hongkongers.

Tong says that the government is gathering personal information from more and more channels, reaching ever deeper into citizens' lives. "They violate our human rights, and interfere with our daily lives in so many ways."

Tong does not hide his disappointment or reluctance at closing his fitness center. He is also aware that, to many people, their decision is regrettable, rash, and even unwise. To the young couple, however, it is the bottom line.

"A lot of people feel that closing the business is giving up, or a loss. Actually, I don't think it's that serious ..."

Over the two years, the center is the couple's blood, tears, and toil; moreover, it's their memories. "We come away with so many memories from it. Plus, in the end, we stayed true to ourselves."

Source: Stand News #Feb15
https://bit.ly/3tZqODM

#Game #BruceLee
#StreetFighterII in #NintendoSwitch replaces the flag of Hong Kong game character with China's Emblem

Source: Stand News #Feb19

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#Game #BruceLee
#StreetFighterII in #NintendoSwitch replaces the flag of Hong Kong game character with China's Emblem

#Capcom has recently released a video game Capcom Arcade Stadium in #NintendoSwitch, which contains 32 classic games such as Street Fighter II: Turbo.

A Japanese user recently noticed that the flag of a Hong Kong game character, Fei Long, was changed to the flag of the People's Republic of China and shared the photo on Twitter.

The photo has caused some heated debates, and some criticised that the company's political correctness has gone too far.

"Fei Long" was a game character in Street Fighter II in reference to Bruce Lee. In the game, although his representing country was shown as Hong Kong, the national flag beside it was the flag of China.

Some users pointed out that it was not the first time Capcom has replaced Hong Kong’s flag in its games. Since 2018, Fei Long’s representing country flag in Street Fighter II in arcade game version has been replaced from the British Hong Kong flag (Dragon and Lion flag) to the regional flag of Hong Kong in order to “follow the trend”.

Source: Stand News #Feb19
https://www.thestandnews.com/culture/switch-%E7%89%88-%E8%A1%97%E9%9C%B82-%E9%A6%99%E6%B8%AF%E9%81%B8%E6%89%8B%E8%A2%AB%E6%94%B9%E9%85%8D%E4%BA%94%E6%98%9F%E6%97%97/

#NationalFlag

#CUHK newly elected student union collectively resigns due to harassment and death threats

Source: Apple Daily, #Mar1

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#University #PoliticalOppression
#CUHK newly elected student union collectively resigns due to harassment and death threats

The newly elected student union “#Syzygia" of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) announced their collective resignation on March 1, 2021.

After they won the election, the University management had immediately cut ties with them. The resignation was due to the legal intimidation and death threats faced by the elected members and their families.

In recent weeks, these student leaders have become the target of the university’s authorities, which released two heavily-worded statements in Feb 2021 condemning the cabinet, for their “possibly unlawful remarks” to media and “political propaganda.”

Issac Lam Yiu-hei, president of the elected student union said cabinet members had felt “increasing political pressure from the university,” which had threatened to “disavow” all student associations if Syzygia refused to withdraw from the election.

Source: Apple Daily, #Mar1
https://bit.ly/3uFXTVC

#WhiteTerror #Censorship #UniversityManagenent

#FirstHand #Mar4 #Court
Friends and family of 47 Activists Express Disappointment at Bail Refusal

After a marathon trial of four days and 3 nights, the national security magistrate, Victor So granted bail to 15 pro-democracy activists and politicians charged with conspiracy to commit subversion in the late evening of 4 March.

The Department of Justice, however, immediately applied for a review of his decision, and magistrate So said he therefore must remand all defendants in custody, and ordered them to appear in court again within 48 hours.

The magistrate rejected bail applications from the other 31 defendants, saying he did not have sufficient grounds to believe they wouldn’t continue to endanger national security.

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#FirstHand #Mar4 #Court
Friends and family of 47 Activists Express Disappointment at Bail Refusal

2015 | West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts

Outside the court, ex-lawmaker Eddie Chu’s wife Coco Au, wife of former legislator Leung Kwok-hung (a.k.a. Longhair), Chan Po-ying, activist Lester Shum’s wife Nicole Yu and the Civil Human Rights Front’s Figo Chan met the press in the late evening of March 4.

Speaking on behalf of the activist's family, Lester Shum's wife Nicole Yu said that they had been mentally prepared for the bail refusal but were still "very sad" finding their family members back in detention.

Source: Apple Daily, Stand News; #Mar4
Photo: #FirstHand

#PoliticalPrisoners #PoliceState #47Democrats

#FirstHand #Mar4 #Court
"You'll burn in hell, CCP": Arrestee's Foster Mother Gives Indignant Speech after DoJ Sends All 47 Activists Back to Custody

2030 | West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts

After a marathon hearing that stretched across four days, weary pro-democracy activists charged with subversion found themselves back in detention.

Foster Mother of Hendick Lui Chi Hang, one of the 47 pro-democracy figures, broke down into tears and gave a speech before the press outside the Magistrate court:

"Under tyranny, everything here is wrong. Everyone in the hearing (47 activists) are good people.

Source: First Hand; #Mar4

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#FirstHand #Mar4 #Court
"You'll burn in hell, CCP": Arrestee's Foster Mother Gives Indignant Speech after DoJ Sends All 47 Activists Back to Custody

https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/28923

I'm the foster mother of Hendick Lui Chi Hang. The 47 pro-democracy activists arrested shouldn’t be treated like that. I am indignant, but I know what I am talking about.

The whole thing (the arrest and trial) is totally wrong. They only did what was right.

I want to tell the CCP: what you're doing is wrong. If you don't repent, when judgment day comes, you'll go to hell. You'll be burned by eternal fire. You'll all be punished for your sins, for persecuting us innocent Hongkongers."

===Related news
Friends and family of 47 Activists Express Disappointment at Bail Refusal
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/28921

#PoliticalPrisoners #PoliceState #47Democrats

#FirstHand #Mar5 #Court
"Hang In There": Citizens Line the Streets in Support as 47 Activists are Taken Back to Custody

0007 | Lau Chi Kok Reception Center

Police had cordoned off the parking area by the Magistrates’ Courts, only allowing journalists to enter.

After midnight on 5 March, the crowd of citizens waiting in support for the 47 arrested activists thus went to the Lau Chi Kok Reception Center to see them off.

They lined the sidewalk, waving cell phone lights and shouting words of encouragement as their vehicle passed by: "Hongkongers, add oil!" "Hang in there!"

#PoliticalPrisoners #YNWA #47Democrats

Over 30 Human Rights Organisations Call the EU to Add a Human Rights Clause in the China-EU Investment Agreement and to be Tougher on the Issue in a Joint Petition

Source: Apple Daily #Jan13

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Over 30 Human Rights Organisations Call the EU to Add a Human Rights Clause in the China-EU Investment Agreement and to be Tougher on the Issue in a Joint Petition

The European Union and China reached an agreement on the China-Europe Investment Agreement (CEI) last month. Hong Kong Global Connect, together with more than 30 human rights organisations around the world, signed a joint letter on Wednesday, asking the EU to be tougher on human rights issues in China and to reconsider the CEI and the inclusion of human rights clause in the agreement.

More than 30 organisations signed the letter and sent the letter to President of the European Council Charles Michel, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, EU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, and the President of the European Parliament. Borrell, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and President of the European Parliament David Sassoli. The joint letter states that they are "deeply concerned" about the omission of the human rights clause from the final text of the agreement, which they believe that the EU will give a message about the promotion of close cooperation with China regardless of the scale or severity of human rights violations by the Chinese Communist Party.

The organisations noted that the EU has an agreed and moral obligation to respect democratic principles, the rule of law and human rights when negotiating with China. They also recommend the EU to ensure that China ratifies key conventions, including the UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions, before acceding to the agreement. They also suggested that a human rights clause should be included in the EU-China Investment Agreement.

Hong Kong Global Connect, Hong Kong Watch, Human Rights in China, the International Federation for Human Rights, the International Campaign for Tibet, the World Uyghur Congress, and other human rights organisations signed the joint letter.

Source: Apple Daily #Jan13

https://hk.appledaily.com/international/20210113/WC3VWVZSRRCVJDJJ7WSMWJRSOA/

#EuropeanUnion #EU #China #EUChinaInvestmentAgreement #humanrightsissue #jointpetition #HongKongGlobalConnect #HongKongWatch #Tibetan #Uyghur #HumanRights #ChinaEU